THE WOMAN WHO HAD
TWO NAVELS
NICK JOAQUIN
BACKGROUND
OF THE
BOOK/NOVEL
The Woman Who Had Two Navels is a
1961 novel by Nick Joaquín, a National
Artist for Literature and leading English-
language writer from the Philippines. It
is considered a classic in Philippine
literature. It was the recipient of the
first Harry Stonehill Award.
This novel by Joaquin is a literary
assessment of the influence of the past to
the time encompassing events in the
Philippines after World War II, an
examination of an assortment of legacy
and heritage and the questions of how an
individual can exercise free will and deal
with the “shock” of experiencing
“epiphanic recognition”.
It tells the story of an elite Filipina who is
hallucinating, and is preoccupied with the notion
that she has two navels or belly buttons in order
to be treated as an extraordinary person.
His novel is narrated by a third person narrator
and is divided into five chapters: Chapter 1
(Paco), Chapter 2 (Macho), Chapter 3 (La Vidal),
Chapter 4 (The Chinese Moon) and Chapter 5
(Doctor Monson).
BACKGROUND OF
THE AUTHOR
Nicomedes Marquez Joaquin,
more commonly known as Nick
Joaquin ( 1917-2004) is a
towering literary figure whose
body of work is unparalleled.
Filipino novelist, poet,
playwright, essayist, and
biographer whose works present
the diverse heritage of the
Filipino people.
NICK JOAQUIN WAS A VORACIOUS READER AT AGE 10
- Joaquin was born to a family of means.
His father, Leocadio Joaquin, was an
attorney at the Court of First Instance of
Laguna, where he met his second wife,
Salome, Joaquin’s mother.
- Joaquin’s mother, Salome, was a highly
educated woman and was trained at an
institute for teachers during the Spanish
colonial period.
NICK JOAQUIN DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL
Leocadio died when Joaquin was only 12 years old
and just about to start high school. Although he was a
very intelligent student, he found no passion in the
confines of curriculum and classroom learning.
-At 17, he published his first poem in English.
-In 1937, when he was 20 years old, he published his
first short story, The Sorrows of Vaudeville.
NICK JOAQUIN LIVING THROUGH WAR
-Joaquin’s career was blossoming when the country
was on the cusp of the Second World War.
-Joaquin witnessed the Battle of Manila one of the most
gruesome war stories ever documented.
- Nevertheless, it was during the war when Joaquin
produced some of his best literary pieces: La Naval de
Manila (1943), It Was Later than We Thought (1943). In
rapid succession after 1945, he published some of his
greatest works: The Summer Solstice, May Day Eve, and
Guardia de Honor.
WHY NICK JOAQUIN
NICK JOAQUIN AS ALMOST DECLINED HIS
“QUIJANO DE MANILA NATIONAL ARTIST
AWARDS
Nick Joaquin as “Quijano de Manila” -Joaquin was the same shy and
reclusive person as an adult as he
- Joaquin used the pseudonym was when he was a child. Awards
Quijano de Manila when he started and recognitions did not enamor
writing for the magazine Philippine him. That is part of the reason why
Free Press in 1950. “Quijano” is an he almost refused to accept his
anagram for his surname. National Artist Award in 1976.
CONTENT OF
THE NOVEL
A. List of Characters
B. Summary
CHARACTERS
CONNIE ESCOBAR PEPE MONSON CONCHA VIDAL
• THE LEAD FEMALE • A HORSE DOCTOR,
• CONNIE'S MOTHER
CHARACTER WHO RESIDING IN HONG
KONG
INDULGES AND DELUDES • AN ELITE FILIPINA
HERSELF AS HAVING • SON OF FILIPINO WHO STILL LOOKS
TWO BELLY BUTTONS OR EMIGRANTS. BROTHER GORGEOUS IN HER
NAVEL OF FATHER TONY FORTIES
MONSON
• DAUGHTER OF CONCHA
AND SEÑOR MANOLO • ENGAGED TO RITA
LOPEZ
VIDAL
• HE’S THE ONE WHO
KNOWS MOST THE STORY
• WIFE OF MACHO BEHIND THE CONFLICT
ESCOBAR THAT CONNIE ESCOBAR
EXPERIENCED
CHARACTERS
PACO TEXEIRA MACHO ESCOBAR TONY MONSON
• FILIPINO-PORTUGUESE JAZZ • PEPE'S BROTHER
• CONNIE'S HUSBAND
BANDLEADER WHO LIVES IN
HONG KONG • FROM A WEALTHY FAMILY •STUDIES IN A ROMAN
OF HACIENDEROS CATHOLIC SEMINARY
• CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE
MONSON BROTHERS
RITA LOPEZ MARY TEXEIRA DOCTOR MONSON
• FATHER OF PEPE AND
• PEPE'S FIANCÉE. • PACO'S WIFE. LIVES TONY
IN HONG KONG AND IS
OF MIXED • A FILIPINO EXILE IN
• SHE OWNS AN ART
PORTUGUESE AND HONGKONG
SHOP
FILIPINO DESCENT
• FOUGHT IN THE
PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION
CHARACTERS
ESTEBAN BORROMEO MANOLO VIDAL KIKAY VALERO
• FIRST HUSBAND OF • A WEALTHY • KNOWS EVERY
CONCHA VIDAL POLITICIAN IN THE FILIPINO IN TOWN
PHILIPPINES
• CONCA VIDAL'S
SECOND HUSBAND
AND CONNIE'S
FATHER
SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL
STORY TELLING
01 02 03
• PEPE THEN WENT TO • IN THE ART SHOP,
• CONNIE PAYED A
THE TEXEIRA'S AFTER RITA RECEIVED A CALL
VISIT TO PEPE IN
HIS TALK TO CONNIE'S FROM PEPE INVITING
HONGKONG TO
MOTHER HER FOR A DINNER
CONSULT ABOUT HER
WITH THE TEXEIRA
TWO NAVELS
• PACO SHARED TO COUPLE TO A CLUB IN
PEPE THAT HE HAD TOVARICH
• PEPE TALKED
TO CONCHA BEEN TO MANILA AND
VIDAL TOLD THE LATTER
04 05 06
• PEPE HELPED CONNIE
• THEY MET PETE • CONNIE AND PEPE
GET AWAY FROM HER
ALFONSO IN THE CLUB WENT AWAY. THE
HOTEL BY LETTING HER
FORMER WAS DRIVING
SLEEP IN RITA'S PLACE
THE CAR
• PEPE FOUND
CONNIE NAKED • THEY ARRIVED AT
INSIDE OF THAT CONNIE'S HOTEL ONLY
CLUB TO SEE MACHO THERE
07 08 09
• CONNIE SOUGHT • THE MONSON
• CONCHA VISITED ST.
FOR TONY BROTHERS FOUND
RITA'S SHOP AND
MONSON'S HELP AS CONNIE IN THEIR
FOUND FATHER TONY
PER PEPE'S ADVICE. APARTMENT AND
THERE
RELAYED THE
INFORMATION THAT
• LATER THAT NIGHT,
MACHO WANT TO
CONCHA REMINISCE
START FROM SCRATCH
THE TIME WHEN SHE
WITH HER
WAS FIFTEEN
10 11 12
• PEPE DISCOVERED • ON HER WAY TO THE
THAT CONNIE ONLY MONASTERY , SHE • KIKAY VALERO
HAD ONE NAVEL RECALLED HER BITTER OBLIGED HERSELF TO
PAST REPORT TO CONCHA
• CONNIE THEN ABOUT CONNIE'S
PROCEEDED TO WHAT •UNFORTANELY, SHE DEATH
SHE REALLY WANTED— MET AN ACCIDENT
TO RUN AWAY
13 14 15
• FATHER TONY • CONNIE WAS ABLE • SHE THEN, INSTEAD
QUITTED HIS TO EXIT HER CAR OF GOING TO THE
PRIESTHOOD WHICH BEFORE IT FLEW OFF MONASTERY, ENDED
MADE RITA ANGRY THE CLIFF UP IN THE MONSON'S
APARTMENT WHERE
SHE MET DOCTOR
MONSON.
16 17 18
• DOCTOR MONSON
DIED WITH A SMILE ON
• THEY ELOPED AND • AT THE END OF THE
HIS FACE
DECIDED TO GO TO NOVEL, MACHO SHOT
MACAU, LEAVING CONCHA TO DEATH
• AFTER VISITING AND SHOT HIMSELF
THEIR PARTNERS
DOCTOR MONSON, SHE AFTERWARDS.
BEHIND.
BUMPED INTO PACO
AND FELL INTO HIS
EMBRACE
MESSAGE OF THE
NOVEL THAT THE
AUTHOR WAS
TRYING TO CONVEY
The author portrays complex themes such as
identity, the search for self-fulfillment, and the
effects of colonialism on Philippine society
Through the characters' intertwined narratives,
the author explores the internal struggles and
external influences that shape their lives.
The book delves into the consequences of
historical events, personal choices, and societal
expectations on the characters, highlighting the
complexities of human relationships and the
quest for personal and cultural identity.
The novel is complex exploration of identity,
colonialism, and psychological turmoil. One of the
central themes is the search for one's true self and
the consequences of being torn between different
cultures and influences.
The story delves into the idea of cultural
inheritance, as well as the struggle to break free from
the constraints of the past. Ultimately, the author
seems to convey the idea that true fulfillment can
only come from embracing one's own identity and
history, rather than seeking validation from external
sources.
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING!
Prepared by: GROUP 4
Members:
Catiñong, Rechel Joy
Crispo, Romy
Erabon, Sheila Micah
Gepana, Jeric
Matavia, Alleah Marie
